Tour match, Derby (day one of two, close):
Australia 436 v Derbyshire
Match scorecard

Hussey (left) and Ponting filled their boots against an under-strength attack

Australia warmed up for next week's first Test against Pakistan by getting some useful batting practice on day one of their tour match against Derbyshire.

The tourists saw Shane Watson (5) and Michael Clarke (1) fall cheaply but were aided by a superb stand between captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.

The pair put on 210 for the fourth wicket with Ponting eventually retiring for 116, and Hussey out for 132.

Tim Paine also passed 50 as the Aussies were dismissed for 436 at the close.

The day had not started well for the tourists, with teenage left-armer Atif Sheikh trapping Watson in front before removing fellow opener Simon Katich, who managed only 22 against his former side.

Former England Under-19 seamer Mark Footitt then bowled Clarke and suddenly the Aussies were struggling on 48-3.

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But Ponting and Hussey were undaunted against an under-strength attack and calmly put their side back in the ascendency.

By the time off-spinner Jake Needham finally dismissed the latter, Ponting had already stepped aside and the score was 296-5 in the 12-man-a-side match.

Paine, who struggled for form throughout the one-day series against England, rediscovered his touch down the order with 52 not out, while leg-spinner Steve Smith also continued to show his promise by hitting 48 from only 43 balls.

In their solitary warm-up match before the first Test starts at Lord's on 13 July, Pakistan were made to struggle by a plucky Leicestershire side after resting several key players.

On a low-key opening day of the two-day match at Grace Road, Pakistan's bowlers struggled to dominate as the hosts closed on 277-6 off 94 overs.

Strike bowler Mohammad Asif finished with a disappointing 0-54 off his 17 overs but Tanvir Ahmed did his hopes of a Test call-up no harm with 2-41 - although the seamer was forced off the field with an injury late in the day.

Greg Smith (87) was the mainstay of the Leicestershire innings, although the Foxes owe much to Wayne White's unbeaten 65 down the order.

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